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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Fiadh

90 replies

SmugairleRoin · 28/09/2015 12:23

Pronounced Fee-ah, this means deer in Irish (also an archaeological cooking pit depending on who you listen to). Thoughts?
I do think it is pretty but worry it'd sound like Thea/Fear in some accents, plus it did shoot up the Irish baby name charts.

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Sunshine511 · 28/09/2015 13:18

I think it sounds lovely but I would have had absolutely no idea how to pronounce this. I'm familiar with quite a few of the Irish names but this isn't one I've come across. Mispronunciation may be an issue and spelling but I think it's a lovely sounding name

mika2 · 28/09/2015 13:42

I love this name and DD was almost Fiadh but the few English ppl we tested it on pronounced it "fear" which was so annoying and we eventually dropped it very reluctantly... Depends on the accent where you live whether it's going to be an issue and if so whether that bothers you. It's a tough one as it's so pretty but hard for ppl to pronounce correctly. And yes Fiadh/Fia seems to have exploded in popularity in Ireland

wigglesrock · 28/09/2015 13:46

I know 2 baby ones . It all depends where you live, if you live somewhere where a at the end of a name is pronounced a and not er I'd go for it. I've 3 daughters, all their names end in a, I've never had an issue with pronounciations. My 10 year old is Fia but it's from Sofia.

Liomsa · 28/09/2015 13:50

Irish, and I like it (admittedly it's a 'trendy new-Irish, Celtic Tiger' style name, rather than clunky old standards like Brid and Siobhan. But yes, if you live in quite a few parts of England, it being misheard as 'Fear' or Thea' is quite likely. I wouldn't let it stop me, mind you, but personally I do find the 'th' as 'f' thing irritating past belief - my son's name begins with 'Th' not 'F'.

I think the archaeological cooking dug-out is a 'fulacht fia', by the way!

whatsagoodusername · 28/09/2015 13:54

I like it, but would have had absolutely no clue how to pronounce it.

Original poster

SmugairleRoin · 28/09/2015 13:59

Yup that's what I was referring to Liomsa! I don't honestly think many people would know that reference anyway (not until about 1st year in secondary school anyway...that's usually when they study those isn't it?) But it's come up on a couple of baby name threads I was looking at so thought twas worth mentioning. The 'th' as 'f' annoys me too but sure...I'm sure the reverse is said about Irish pronunciation

I'm going to have a think about it, I do live in Ireland anyway so pronunciation wouldn't be an issue here - might be if she or we moved though! It is definitely more of a Celtic Tiger name though, rather than Deirdre or Maire. I don't mind that so much though, at least I'm not naming her Sneachta (snow) or Fuinneog (window).

Thanks all for thoughts so far

OP posts:

Sunshine511 · 28/09/2015 14:02

Since you live in Ireland, I think go for it!

Moodyblue1 · 28/09/2015 15:10

It's lovely, I wouldn't have known how to pronounce it though.

mathanxiety · 28/09/2015 16:26

I love it.

I also love Fiach.

LOL at Sneachta and Fuinneog. When I was about 5 I thought Bricfeasta was the most gorgeous name.

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/09/2015 17:19

I like it.

Sounds a little like Fear when I say it but not overly so.

BoldFox · 28/09/2015 17:23

I like it but I agree, it's very new celtic tiger. My dd has a Thea in her class, at least here, if people say Fiadh then that's a name too. But that's not HOW some people might get it wrong, some people might say Tia. but that's a name too.

Lol at little Sneachta and Fuinneog! Sneachta Og after an fear sneachta!?

Sgoinneal · 28/09/2015 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsschu · 28/09/2015 19:54

Not too keen on Fiadh. Although I'm Irish and have no trouble with the pronounciation, because I live in the UK it now sounds like the way certain English accents would pronounce Thea (or indeed fear in a different type of accent). But that isn't a concern of yours really as you live in Ireland. Not sure where your DD may live later in life should be a huge concern when naming her. Maybe she'll stay put on the Emerald Isle all her life . Incidentally I do know a Snow...

villainousbroodmare · 28/09/2015 20:09

Go hálainn!
I think the "fia" element of the "fulacht fia" actually does refer to deer, or game at least, so it's of the same origin.
I was actually thinking of you the other day and wondering if you'd decided on a name!

Original poster

SmugairleRoin · 28/09/2015 21:27

Sneachta is a lovely sounding word in all fairness, if it was an actual name I'd be all for it!

Bricfeasta also sounds lovely actually.

Villainous that's very sweet I'm not near due date yet though so have a madly long list of names and no decisions, which is probably for the best - I can just see myself being indecisive and rejecting all the names when she's actually born!

OP posts:

Helpmeoutofthemaze · 28/09/2015 21:36

I really don't like it at all, sorry to be blunt.

I think it looks ugly on paper and will be difficult for at least 90% of people outside Ireland to pronounce.

It looks like it would be pronounced Fy-ad.

Plus even when it's pronounced correctly, it sounds like fear.

If you really like the sound of it, I'd go for Sofia and shorten to Fee-ah. Sofia is easily recognised across many languages.

I generally do not like names are difficult for any reason. Spelling, pronounciation, connotations etc and I do much prefer simple, everyday names.

DramaAlpaca · 28/09/2015 21:45

I think it's lovely. I know a Fia and I think it's a very pretty name as is Fiadh.

I live in Ireland and because I'm English I have to be careful to pronounce it correctly. If I'm not careful it would come out like fear, which wouldn't do at all!

Pronunciation won't be a problem for anyone Irish because in any Irish accent Fiadh and fear sound completely different.

SurlyCue · 28/09/2015 21:52

will be difficult for at least 90% of people outside Ireland to pronounce.

Well the child will be living in ireland and it will only be difficult to pronounce before they've heard it said!

Do you think people in france/china/malaysia think "ooh that name will be difficult for people outside of france/china/malaysia to pronounce so i wont use it in malaysia"?

OP i think it is lovely. I know a newly named Fiadh.

SurlyCue · 28/09/2015 21:54

I generally do not like names are difficult for any reason

Difficult for you. not everyone is english and can only cope with emma and james.

Liomsa · 28/09/2015 21:54

Helpme, the OP is Irish and living in Ireland, and it is a 'simple everyday name' in Ireland. In no Irish accent does Fiadh sound like 'fear', because Irish accents are rhotic and pronounce terminal R sounds.

Secondtimeround75 · 28/09/2015 22:00

Why not spell it Fia , do you really need the dh ???

I like it btw

SurlyCue · 28/09/2015 22:02

Why not spell it Fia , do you really need the dh

Because that is how it is spelt! You do realise it is an actual other language? It isnt english with a few extra consonants thrown in to 'irish it up'!

villainousbroodmare · 28/09/2015 22:04

I think that it's a much more finished name with the "dh".
I suppose by that logic John doesn't need its "h", Finn has a superfluous "n" and all Annes should be Ann or even An.

villainousbroodmare · 28/09/2015 22:05

at "Irish it up"!

SurlyCue · 28/09/2015 22:08

Exactly villainous

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